LA Live: The Ultimate Entertainment Complex in Downtown Los Angeles

The L.A. Live is a 27-acre entertainment hub in the South Park District of downtown Los Angeles, California, next to the Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Centre. The complex was developed by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), which is worth $2.5 billion. It has the Peacock Theatre with 7100 seats, the Novo theatre, a 14-screen Regal Cinemas multiplex, the small 4-story GRAMMY Museum, an ESPN broadcasting studio, and a 54-story dual-branded JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotel tower. Its main open-air space, called Xbox Plaza and currently named Peacock Place, is a place where large masses of people can gather, like the red carpets on award shows or an ice skating rink during the winter season. Visitors can attend major concerts, live sports events (at the nearby Crypto.com arena), award shows, such as the Emmy and American Music Awards, visit more than twenty diverse restaurants and bars, and spend their nights at a bowling alley.

What Can You See and Do at LA Live?

Here are the five best things to see and do at Los Angeles Live:

1. Attend Sports Events & Concerts: Visitors watch big sports matches, such as professional basketball (Lakers, Clippers, Sparks) and hockey (Kings), concerts and comedy shows by A-list artists in the Crypto.com Arena. The complex is also the location of the Peacock Theatre (previously Microsoft Theatre), a 7,100-seat significant venue where concerts, awards shows, and other live performances take place. In case of intimate shows with upcoming artists, they also have the so-called venue called The Novo.
2. Visit Microsoft Theatre: The Microsoft Theatre is a 7,100-seat entertainment venue in downtown Los Angeles, L.A. Live, which is the location of the major awards shows and concerts. It is also known as the Nokia Theatre and was recently renamed the Peacock Theatre as a result of a naming rights deal with NBCUniversal. It is one of the largest live entertainment centres alongside other entertainment and restaurants in the complex.
3. Explore Entertainment Venues: L.A. Live is an active sports and entertainment neighbourhood located in the centre of Los Angeles that comprises a wide variety of entertainment facilities. The Crypto.com Arena is among the key venues, and this is a large arena where sports championships and concerts are held, with award shows of great magnitude, such as the Grammys. To hear live music and shows, people go to the Peacock Theatre (associated with events like the Primetime Emmys and American Music Awards) or the smaller The Novo. There is also the complex, which includes a 14-screen Regal Cinemas movie theatre, the interactive GRAMMY Museum, and a Lucky Strike bowling alley/lounge, and provides a broad selection of entertainment and cultural options at a single location.
4. Interactive Experiences & Art Installations: The complex is a fun place with vast open-air areas such as Peacock Place, which has LED signage. It organises seasonal events, like an in-demand outdoor ice skating rink in the winter months, which helps in creating a fun and interactive atmosphere. Its structure and exhibitions give a distinguished city-like setting to explore and capture photos.
5. Shopping & Retail: L.A. LIVE is not more of a traditional shopping arena with many retail outlets, but mostly a huge entertainment hub with sports and music bars, restaurants. The primary shopping opportunity within the immediate complex itself is a New Era store, which carries branded sportswear and hats, especially of local teams such as the Lakers, Dodgers and Kings.

How to Get to LA Live?

Here are the three  best ways to go to the Los Angeles Live:

1. By Metro:  Took a ride on Purple (D) and Red (B) for the 7th Street/Metro Centre stop. At that point, transfer to the A Line (Blue) and go one stop to the Pico station. The station is within a short distance (under 4 minutes) of LA Live.
2. By Limo and Car Services: Limousine service Los Angeles is the most luxurious way of travel in L.A. Beware of traffic, particularly in rush periods between 7-9 AM and 3-7 PM. Parking facilities are offered, and it is suitable to book in advance at the best rates.
3. By Rideshare / Taxi: Take a ride by using a rideshare application such as Uber to make a request to LA Live at any time of the day or night. There are also taxis, which could be hailed or booked.

What Are the Best Times to Visit LA Live?

The spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) are the most suitable times to visit LA Live when it is pleasant and not crowded, or evenings when visitors can have an experience of a lively nightlife. The weather in spring and early fall is pleasant and ideal to explore, but in the evening, LA Live is full of people at restaurants and bars, and at night, shows at the Microsoft theatre or events at the Staples Centre are going on.

Where to Eat & Drink at LA Live?

Here are the three best eating places in Los Angeles Live:

1. Katsuya: This sushi bar and Japanese restaurant are close to the Crypto.com arena, and they have an active menu of Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi. The cool ambience, designed by Philippe Starck, has speciality cocktails and signature food such as Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna. Katsuya has a private dining area, a lounge and a big patio with a view of the LA Live promenade. 
2. Yard House: Yard House has a contemporary American social environment where the music of classic rock and a wide number of draft beers are served. Yard House has an eclectic food menu that includes burgers and seafood, as well as favoured appetisers as Poke Nachos and street tacos. It is a huge, lively establishment that has both indoor and outdoor seating. 
3. Tom’s Watch Bar: Toms Urban is new and is being renamed Toms Watch Bar. It has more than 150 HDTV screens, one giant megatron screen, and is therefore suitable for viewing games and events. It serves sports bar food and a wide variety of beers and cocktails.

Is LA Live Worth Visiting?

L.A. Live is an energetic entertainment centre, worth visiting, particularly when you are visiting a particular event or even when you are visiting Downtown LA. It has different attractions within a short walking distance, such as the interactive GRAMMY Museum, the Peacock Theatre and The Novo concert halls and events, the Regal Cinemas movie theatre, and next door, Crypto.com Arena with large sports events and concerts. It has fabulous restaurants, a bowling alley (Lucky Strike), and the outdoor Peacock Place (previously Xbox Plaza) that hosts various events. All over it’s a beautiful, worth-seeing place.